Created in 1916 by The London Geographical Institute, The Balkan States offers a masterful portrait of a region at the nexus of empires and national awakenings. Its vivid topography elevates mountains, river valleys, and coastlines into a coherent geometry of power and passage, while ornate lettering and careful symbology distinguish capitals and strategic towns. Political borders are crisply articulated against the physical landscape, inviting the viewer to read how terrain shaped diplomacy and ambition. Seen through this lens, the Balkans emerge not as a periphery but as the hinge of Europe—where the Danube converges with the Aegean and Adriatic, and where the nomenclature of cities—Athens, Belgrade, Sofia, Bucharest, and Constantinople—evokes centuries of shifting sovereignties.

Historically, the map captures the immediate aftermath of the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), when the Treaty of Bucharest redrew frontiers and crystallized contested spaces like Macedonia and Thrace. Greece’s expanded presence around Thessaloniki, Serbia’s reach toward the Vardar, Bulgaria’s recalibrated claims around Plovdiv and Varna, and the newly recognized Albania—highlighted with coastal anchors such as Durazzo—are all clearly delineated. Romania’s arc from Bucharest through Craiova to Galatz anchors the north, while Montenegro’s Cattaro reflects Adriatic ambitions. The retention of Constantinople as a toponym underscores the late Ottoman hold on Thrace. Together, these labels and lines map the region’s tense equilibrium—fragile, provisional, and deeply charged with unresolved national aspirations.

Amid the Great War, the map’s military resonance is unmistakable. Transport routes trace the Morava–Vardar corridor from Belgrade through Skopje to Thessaloniki—an artery that became the Allied Salonika Front. The Danube, marked with cities like Rustchuk and Galatz, reads as a supply lifeline and invasion frontier. Fort symbols and coastal defenses at Cattaro hint at Adriatic naval strategy, while Corfu’s prominence evokes Serbia’s harrowing retreat across Albania and subsequent regrouping. Romania’s 1916 entry into the war lends urgency to the rail spines linking Bucharest to Trans-Danubian crossings. In the southeast, the approaches to Thrace recall the wider struggle over the straits, situating the region within the grand chessboard of European strategy.

Economically and culturally, the cartography reveals the Balkans as a trading web fused to three seas. Varna and Galatz open to the Black Sea grain routes, Thessaloniki to the Levantine and Aegean trade, and Durazzo and Cattaro to Adriatic circuits that tie the peninsula to Buda-Pest and Central Europe. The careful plotting of lines of rail and road suggests how commerce, migration, and ideas moved along the same paths as armies. Mountain ranges—from the Balkan Mountains to uplands guiding river courses—explain why cities like Sofia, Skopje, and Plovdiv emerged where they did. The symbology marking Athens, Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Tirana testifies to a mosaic of identities knitted together by geography as much as by history.

As a historical artifact, this map distills a pivotal moment when competing national projects, imperial legacies, and wartime exigencies converged. Its toponyms—Constantinople, Buda-Pest, Cattaro, Rustchuk—are themselves historical clues, preserving administrative vocabularies on the cusp of change. The Institute’s exacting style transforms the Balkans’ complexity into a legible narrative, inviting inquiry into the treaties of Berlin and Bucharest, the assassination at Sarajevo, and the diplomatic calculations that shaped borders. Scholars, collectors, and connoisseurs will find in its colors and contours a lucid framework for understanding how frontiers hardened, alliances shifted, and a new European order was contested—line by line, river by river, and city by storied city.

Places on this map

• Athens (Greece)
• Belgrade (Serbia)
• Sofia (Bulgaria)
• Bucharest (Romania)
• Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Thessaloniki (Greece)
• Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey)
• Tirana (Albania)
• Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
• Varna (Bulgaria)
• Skopje (North Macedonia)
• Durazzo (Durrës, Albania)
• Craiova (Romania)
• Kalabata (Greece)
• Galatz (Romania)
• Buda-Pest (Budapest, Hungary)
• Cattaro (Kotor, Montenegro)
• Corfu (Greece)
• Loznica (Serbia)
• Rustchuk (Ruse, Bulgaria)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Major mountain ranges, notably the Balkan Mountains.
• Important rivers, including the Danube and Morava.
• A clearly defined political boundary between various countries.
• Key cities marked with distinctive symbols such as stars.
• Prominent geographical regions including Thrace and Macedonia.
• Transport routes shown, indicative of rail and trade lines of the period.
• Coastal lines highlighting access to the Aegean and Adriatic Seas.
• Notable forts, possibly used for military purposes during conflicts.

Historical and design context

• Date of Creation: 1916.
• Mapmaker/Publisher: The London Geographical Institute — known for producing high-quality maps and contributing to geographical education in the early 20th century.
• Additional Notes: Visualizes the geographical and cultural landscape of the Balkans, highlighting diverse historical identities.
• Topics and Themes: Focus on political boundaries, territorial divisions, key cities, and notable geographical features within the Balkan Peninsula.
• Design/Style: Colorful, detailed topographical rendering of mountains, rivers, and city locations; decorative lettering and ornate borders typical of the era.
• Historical Significance: A historical artifact illuminating the Balkans’ socio-political landscape during a tumultuous period of nationalisms and conflicts, including the lead-up to World War I.
• Countries Shown: Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro, Albania, and parts of Turkey (notably Thrace).

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.